Congenital Esophageal Malformations in Children, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

The esophagus is a muscular tube that transports a food bolus from the pharynx to the stomach. The esophagus is derived from the endoderm germ layer which forms the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, and the epithelial lines of the aerodigestive tract. The trachea and esophagus arise from the separation of a common foregut tube during early fetal development. Failure of separation or complete development of this common foregut tube can lead to tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and esophageal atresia (EA). Prenatally, patients with EA may present with polyhydramnios, mostly in the third trimester, which may be a diagnostic clue to EA.